Beautiful Leica
David Lachapelle: Earth Laughs In Flowers
Africa’s second woman President
Principal BallerinaThe Fashion blog The Libertine, are actively promoted the ‘Keep It Real’ campaign.
…and as someone who often contemplates the issue of body image and depictions of women in media (alongside posting for The English Group in art, fashion, beauty, visual culture, and the ever present risk of more exploitative portrayals), and is writing in a blog for Karen Ruimy, who plays an important role in the gender equality charity foundation The GREAT Initiative – let alone the fact that I am myself at the moment eight and a half months pregnant – it’s easy to find myself intrigued by this campaign too.
In (founder of The Libertine) Kate Van Raden’s own words:
Both myself and my amazing mother, were honored to participate in an article published yesterday at the kick off of Miss Representation’s ‘Keep it Real Challenge’; spotlighting the influence of media and the fashion industry on the health, well-being and happiness of women and young girls in America today. We are both very passionate about the issue, and have committed these three days to featuring the on going discussion on our blogs. Please join us and the movement by creating your own ‘Keep it Real’ campaign (with whatever social-media platform you have access to) over the remaining two days! If you would like to read the article, you can find it HERE.
Here, we feature a small selection of the many many photographs of unretouched or otherwise digitally manipulated images that Kate has used to decorate her own blog posts; women of all shapes and sizes, free of make-up (though not necessarily tattoos, piercings, or other forms of self-expression), and just being themselves.
Some of the images (at the head of this post are as follows:
Plus sized model Lizzie Miller (in an image that caused such controversy in the States when it ran across all media).
Sophie Dahl unretouched.
Plus sized model Katya Zharkova
‘Unretouched’ a fashion study of model Penelope Benson nude by Paul Westlake
‘Large’ model Robyn Lawly’s postcard sent to support the campaign and supporting image.
Following Kate Van Raden’s selection of women ‘keeping it real’ there’s a photograph – sans make-up – of Kate herself (and she’s clearly no slouch in the looks department either).
Via: The Libertine & The English Group
I have come to love this blog and its mix of fashion, arts and gender politics. It’s brilliant and keep up the great work.
I especially enjoy all of Marije’s posts as they really do keep me up-to-date with all that’s happening.
But this is the first time I have ever left a comment on any of the blogs that I follow.
This article is great and I have read more today about the Keep It Real campaign. I have three things to say though.
I think that this blog treads the fine line between appreciating beauty and exploiting women very well indeed. Please do continue to make such an effort to balance your articles so well.
I think it wrong of Kate Van Raden to post some pictures of beautiful women of all shapes, sizes, colours and styles of adornment all naked (yes, I checked her posts on The Libertine), and yet even though she clearly a very beautiful woman only show herself without makeup.
The same is true of you Marije. You let us know that you are eight months pregnant yet you resist an opportunity whatever you look like and whatever shape you are in, to show yourself as naked and proud of yourself as all of the women you have chosen to show a second time all naked.
Can we expect you and Kate Van Raden to show you just as proud too.
Hi There,
Kate from The Libertine here! I am so honored that you were inspired by the ‘Keep It Real’ challenge this week, and chose to share it with your readers. Your blog certainly is beautiful and important…I hope you continue to find the occasional beauty and inspiration with us. Best wishes,
Kate